India trafficking clamp pledged

Manama, November 16, 2011

Indian authorities have identified districts from where women are being trafficked to the Gulf and other countries, a top minister said yesterday.

Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, who is currently visiting Bahrain, said the major concern was women travelling abroad from India.

"There is a network in two or three districts from where women travel abroad illegally," he said.

The minister said the state government had been urged to act swiftly to break human trafficking rackets.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Indian Embassy in Adliya that was co-chaired by Ambassador Mohan Kumar.

"We continue to receive labour complaints on our 24-hour hotline, but I must say the number of cases from Bahrain has dropped," said Kumar. "This can be attributed to our system of following up each case and dealing with it promptly."

During the meeting, Kumar said the Indian minister had discussed travel bans imposed by employers with Foreign Ministry officials.

"Bahrain authorities are in favour of a special court for expatriates to put the travel ban cases on the fast track. This is a judicial procedure that is under consideration and will benefit all expatriates," he said.

Those placed under a travel ban at the request of their Bahraini employers are unable to renew their residence permit and as a result cannot obtain a work visa.

The diplomat also said that there was still no date fixed for a "VVIP" delegation from Bahrain to visit India.

The delegation is expected to be headed by His Majesty King Hamad and features senior ministers.

Meanwhile, the Indian minister said the 10th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention will be held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, from January 7 to 9.

Ravi said the key overseas conference that is attended by Non- Resident Indians would have parallel sessions on development issues such as health, education and youth.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will open the flagship event on January 8 and President Pratibha Patil will deliver an address on January 9. – TradeArabia News Service